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Adams Adams @adamskaruhi

Adamson Karuhi, Marketing Officer at Green Pencils, has demonstrated how small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can drive innovation to address the growing challenge around plastic pollution. Green Pencils manufactures high quality environment-friendly infinity road studs, branded pencils and pens from recycled paper as an alternative to plastic. The company has aligned its business strategy to deliver on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 on responsible consumption and production.

Adamson has supported efforts towards reengineering the company’s business model as well as spearheading the design process of pens to guarantee the plastic component in production is reduced. He has also leveraged his expertise in sales and marketing to drive awareness and uptake of the environment-friendly pencils, pens and infinity road studs amongst other businesses and consumers. Specifically, he has developed a concept that targets leading supermarkets in the country to conduct consumer awareness and sensitization campaigns targeting shoppers. Not only does this boost business, it also enlightens them to consciously protect the environment. 

Recognizing partnerships as key in delivering large scale impact, Adamson has sought support from the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Green Pencils has been participating in the Global Compact since August 2014 and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact have given the company the right foundation for pursuing its business goals. 

In the future, he hopes to influence more consumers to make responsible and sustainable choices in their purchasing decisions.